Volunteers needed for
2021 Virtual Walk for Animals!
The annual Walk for Animals is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year, and every dollar we raise is more important than ever during this challenging time. We will miss having our two annual in-person Walks this year, but your safety is our number one concern and priority. This is why we'll be offering ways for everyone to participate in our virtual Walk Week this year from the comfort of your own home and neighborhood.
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Walk Week 2021: April 11-17 |
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What is the virtual Walk for Animals going to look like?
This year, instead of two in-person, one-day Walks, we will be celebrating the Walk spirit for a full week virtually, from Sunday, April 11 - Saturday, April 17!
We hope our volunteers will create a more humane San Diego for companion animals and wildlife in need by joining us for the Virtual Walk for Animals, as a volunteer or Walker!
This fun-filled Walk Week will feature engaging and animal-themed virtual entertainment, including behind-the-scenes tours, fundraising contests, social media surprises, pancake making and more!
During Walk Week, we will:
- Encourage participants to go out and walk in their own way, however they feel comfortable, keeping social distancing in mind. They could walk around their living room, on a treadmill, in their neighborhood, etc. Creativity is encouraged!
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Ask them to share their participation on social media by taking a photo/video, tagging our SDHS Facebook page and using the hashtag #sdwalkforanimals.
- Engage and post on our social media channels as people tag us throughout the day.
Plans are still being developed, but know that we are working to make the virtual event fun and engaging for all participants. People are still encouraged to start a team or sign up individually, just like they did for the in person Walks. And fundraising prizes can still be earned!
Click here to visit our Walk for Animals website to learn more!
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Although the Walk will look different this year, we still need volunteer support! There are a few roles open now and there will likely be more announced closer to event week. If interested in volunteering, please review the info below, including how to sign up!
Volunteers are also encouraged to register (for free) as walkers to help fundraise for the animals! More info below!
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2021 Walk for Animals Commemorative Volunteer Pin |
As a SDHS volunteer, participation in any of the roles and opportunities below will earn you this year's commemorative pin!
To redeem: Sign up for an Event Volunteer Role, register as a walker or promote the event on your social media platforms and you will be added to our list as a pin recipient. Volunteers will be contacted a few weeks prior to the event with details on how to claim your pin. (Pin preview pictured here, but will say 2021!)
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2021 Walk for Animals Custom Volunteer T-Shirt |
Earn a Walk volunteer shirt in our signature blue by doing one or both of the following:
- Signing up for one of the Event Volunteer Roles
- Registering to walk and raising or donating $25!
This shirt is an official volunteer uniform item and can be worn during your regular volunteer shifts! (Last year's 2020 shirt pictured here.)
To redeem: Sign up for an Event Volunteer Role or register and donate/raise $25 to your personal Walk page and you will be added to our list as a shirt recipient. Register by end of February to guarantee your shirt size. Volunteers will be contacted a few weeks prior to the event with details on how to claim your shirt.
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Our Events team needs help promoting the Virtual Walk for Animals!
This event is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year so we want to make sure we get as many people participating as possible.
We have two volunteer opportunities available to help support the Events team in the months prior to Walk week! Both positions are very flexible, will earn you volunteer hours, can be completed from home or in your neighborhood and can be adapted to your schedule.
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Walk Promotion Volunteers |
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10 volunteers needed
Must be 18+
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Since we cannot invite our supporters to participate in the Walk for Animals in person recruitment events this year, we plan to engage them and request their continued support via phone conversations.
As a Walk Promotion volunteer, you will play a huge role, adding a much needed personal touch in getting people excited about signing up for the virtual event!
Duties: We will provide you with a script and a list of people who have participated in prior Walks. Volunteers will call these individuals to invite them to join us again. For most of the calls, we anticipate you'll simply leave a voicemail - we'll have a script for that, too!
Timing: Flexible! This is a volunteer from home opportunity, so we can work with your schedule as long as calls can be made during day time hours, between 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Calls should be made within two weeks of getting your assigned list, and we ask each volunteer to commit to calling at least 50 supporters, but you are welcome and encouraged to take on more!
Training: We will provide a training session via Zoom, a script and a frequently asked questions cheat sheet to make phone calls a breeze. Stumped on a question from a community member? Not to worry! Our Events team can always follow up so it's no pressure on our volunteers to know everything. What we're looking for is enthusiasm and an upbeat phone presence!
To sign up: Email Sharleen Eusebio, volunteer program development manager, at [email protected] with the following information:
- Full name
- General availability
- Any relevant experience that would make you an excellent phone caller
Candidates may be contacted by the Events team for further questions before being confirmed as a Walk Promotion volunteer.
Deadline to sign up is Jan. 22.
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Walk Community Ambassadors |
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Open to multiple volunteers!
Must be 16+ or with an adult
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One of the best ways to promote the Virtual Walk for Animals is to distribute event materials (such as posters and postcards) throughout the community, particularly in dog-friendly locations such as parks, pet stores and coffee shops.
As a Walk Community Ambassador, you will help us reach your community by distributing materials to places where you visit!
Duties: This Walk Community Ambassador role involves distribution of event materials in your neighborhood or in a location of your choosing. We will provide the materials and you will choose the best location for you and where you feel most comfortable going! Simply let us know once you've completed a location so we can be sure other volunteers don't duplicate efforts in the same area. If you're willing to take on additional areas, great! But definitely no pressure.
Timing: Flexible! This is a volunteer from home opportunity. All you need to do is pick up the materials from our campus and then distribute as soon as you can.
Training: No training needed! But if you have questions, our Events team is here to support you!
Dress Code: You will be representing San Diego Humane Society to the community, so we ask that you wear you blue volunteer t-shirt (if you have a volunteer t-shirt from a previous Walk for Animals, even better!). If you do not already have a t-shirt, let us know so we can provide one from last year's Walk for Animals (while supplies last) or you can purchase a blue t-shirt ($10) from one of our Volunteer Centers.
Safety Tips: Your health and safety continue to be our number one priority, and with that in mind we have a few suggestions on how to keep this ambassador role compliant with safety guidelines.
- Already have an established walking route as part of your daily routine? If your usual path takes you past any local businesses, please feel free to select that area as your assigned community so you don't have to venture anywhere new.
- Consider calling those businesses ahead of time to request permission to leave postcards or posters and to arrange a contactless drop off.
- And, as always, we ask that you wear a facial covering and maintain at least six feet of distance!
To sign up: Email Tess Mengel, special events manager, at [email protected] to arrange materials pickup and let her know what area/neighborhood you'd like to distribute in.
Deadline to sign up is Jan. 31!
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Just as much as we need volunteers to support our Events team, we also need volunteers to sign up as Walk participants!
Along the way, raise some much-needed funds for San Diego Humane Society to receive prizes. Those who raise or donate $50 or more will receive the 2021 Walk for Animals participant t-shirt. The more funds you raise, the more prizes you can earn!
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Join or Donate to Our Volunteer Walk Team! |
Register as a Walk participant and join our SDHS Volunteer Team! Once on our page, click "Join Team" and register as a walker!
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Form Your Own Virtual Walk Team! |
Register yourself and start your own team to rally your people (and pups!) to walk together! Visit the Walk website and click form a team. Once created, invite your friends to register and join your team!
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Be sure to mark yourself as an SDHS volunteer during the registration process to receive the commemorative volunteer pin as well as the custom volunteer Walk for Animals t-shirt if you raise or donate at least $25.
Register by end of February to guarantee your volunteer t-shirt size!
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Additional Ways to Support |
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Share the Walk with Friends and Family! |
Looking for an even simpler way to get involved?
Serve as an Online Walk Ambassador for the event by posting a link to the Walk website on your social media and encouraging your friends and family to participate. Remember, you can walk from anywhere - so send to the farthest reaches of your network!
To make it even easier, feel free to use this message template or adjust it as you wish!
"Every dollar raised for the Virtual Walk for Animals will help shelter and care for homeless pets, rescue animals from emergency situations, investigate animal cruelty and neglect, give injured and orphaned wildlife a place to recover and thrive, and so much more. Register for free for the Virtual Walk for Animals today and help save lives!"
Send a screenshot of your post to [email protected] to receive our Walk for Animals 2021 commemorative pin!
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Not able to volunteer or fundraise but still want to make an impact? Anyone can make a donation! Even a few dollars makes a difference! Visit the Walk website and click the "Donate" button at the top of the page. You can donate on behalf of a specific walker or team! After your donation, email [email protected] to request a 2021 Walk for Animals pin!
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Thank you for all you can do to support our Walk for Animals! |
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